why I love missoula:
Sam Schultz Olympic mountain biker
Neeta Satam/rocky mountain school of photograpy
where to go
hiking
Ready for a hike? It’s impossible to give due credit to each and every must-do hike in the Missoula Valley. There are simply too many choices, and that’s a good thing. Here then are a few suggestions: Hike the M. You must. You can’t spend time in Missoula without noticing the huge white “M” set against Mount Sentinel. Beginning on the UM campus, it’s a steep three-quarters of a mile climb to the “M” and an additional one mile to the top of the mountain. The views of the Missoula Valley, the Clark Fork River, and the distant mountains are spectacular. The trail to the “M” is made up of 11 switchbacks and boasts an elevation gain of 620 feet – something you too can boast about once done. From the top of Mount Sentinel, you can see Hellgate Canyon, Mount Jumbo, where you can note the water lines of Glacial Lake Missoula, and the Rattlesnake National Recreation and Wilderness Area. From there, you can
take the Crazy Canyon Trail into Pattee Canyon, which links to the Kim Williams Trail. Super popular with dogs and their two-legged counterparts, Blue Mountain Recreation Area is an easy two-mile drive southwest of Missoula. A nice mix of easy walking and steeper climbs, Blue Mountain boasts expansive meadows (keep an eye out for the most gorgeous blue butterflies) and great views of the Missoula Valley, including a self-guided nature trail. Be prepared for horses, mountain bikers and plenty of happy dogs. Waterworks Hill is a favorite among locals. Located just off Greenough Drive, Waterworks is an easy, scenic in-town hike. The treeless stretch may seem barren on first glance, but on closer examination, you’ll find some pretty remarkable plant life. Low-lying, or cushion, plants come to life with a variety of flowers and colors in the spring. Be on the lookout for birds and foxes.
“ I spend over 200 days a year on the road traveling to some of the coolest places in the world to race my mountain bike and all I can say is there is no place like home. When I need to recharge after a long trip, I hop on my bike and ride the Sheep Mountain loop, deep in the Rattlesnake Recreation Area, where I rarely see another soul. I get my morning caffeine fix at Black Coffee Roasting and a treat at Le Petit. After the ride, I like to re-hydrate at the Kettlehouse, get dinner at Caffè Dolce, and top off the stores with Big Dipper Ice Cream. Missoula’s combination of people, community, and recreation opportunity is unbeatable. There is a reason my friends and I refer to it as the Center of the Universe.”
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outdoor recreation
local celebrity